#1
|
||||
|
||||
200$ member fee increase
As we stated in the recent newsletter, For well more than a year USI has been losing cash at the rate of about $1,000 per day and will be bankrupt in about a year if nothing is done to turn the organization around. Diablo has taken an aggressive stand to get USI to address the problems and to establish an audit and strategic planning committee to develop ways to provide for the long term survival of USI.
It is already apparent that changes are necessary on both the revenue (pricing, utilization, etc.) side as well as the cost (payroll etc.) side of USI. As a starting point, USI has announced the below increases. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY - USI has announced the following increases: Shotgun Fees: $7.00 "Member" Discount $12.00 "Non-Member" Public Rifle/Pistol Fees: $12.00 "Member" Discount 25.00 "Non-Member" EFFECTIVE May1, 2022 USI is instituting a new "shooting card" in order to take advantage of club member discounts. The INITIAL price for this card is currently set at $200 per year. This means that we will all need to have both a club membership and a USI shooting card to get the member rates on the range. Club members that do not buy the USI card will be charged the "non-member" rates. There are many other details for USI to work out as well in the coming weeks. For questions and answers please watch for another email blast from the Board on where you can express comments and opinions |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Funny how the other 4 clubs are primarily shotgunners, and how amazingly their day fees are so low.
and for those that don't know, all the clubs get equal vote in managing, REGARDLESS of how much larger the club may be. SO you have thousands of members? 1 vote. 200 members? 1 vote... What would help would be a breakdown of where the money is CURRENTLY going to see if there is fat to trim before asking for more gravy to cover it with.
__________________
"If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin." -- Charles Darwin NRA Life, CRPA Life, SASS Life, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor & Range Safety Officer, FSC Instructor |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Families share the Shoot card $200.00 fee?
Having a daughter who I shoot with regulary I'm wondering if my having the $200.00 shoot card will allow me and my daughter to get the discounted range fees or do we both need to pay $200.00?
Thanks |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
This doesn't sound like an equitable solution, and if they go through with this they will lose a LOT of customers...
Who do we speak or write to in order to combat this?
__________________
YouTube Channel: Nick Shoots Stuff Diablo Rod and Gun Club 03-FFL and COE Holder CMAT GMAU |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
I'm a member of Diablo. This will increase my yearly expense from $25 to $225 an 800% increase.
I only shoot trap now (3 rounds per week, most weeks) and the new rate is certainly not acceptable to me. The trap ranges are inferior to Martinez and Livermore. Even if I purchase a USI membership my shooting cost will be higher than shooting as a non-member at Livermore.
__________________
Jack |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
What was the point of becoming a member if getting reduced range fees became waived in lieu of compounding a $200 fee on top of it? Sounds like all members got scammed since we weren’t notified of this mid-year change before signing up. A lawsuit seems in order, honestly.
|
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Member since 07 can't shoot action pistol other than steel challenge which I don't shoot anyway. An occasional round of trap which is already overpriced is not worth the proposed fee increase to me so I'll be letting my membership expire. See you at Richmond.
cheers |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
They are going to lose even more money with that strategy. On top of not updating their website to let people know that masks are no longer required (which has kept me away), the $200 fee would actually make it MORE expensive for many of us.
With the cost of ammunition being so high these days, I would only be shooting 1x per month. (Honestly, even when ammo was relatively inexpensive, I probably only averaged 1x per month) 12 trips * $25 = $300; (12 * $12) + 200 = $344 Yep, not going to happen. |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
I foresee 75% loss of customers. Maybe 1/4 customers would actually buy into this...
__________________
YouTube Channel: Nick Shoots Stuff Diablo Rod and Gun Club 03-FFL and COE Holder CMAT GMAU |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
OK, lets take a look at the business side and leave the attitudes out. If we cannot agree on the good of the range and clubs, an entity divided against itself will fail.I am all for supporting USI but at the rates proposed we are shooting ourselves in the foot.
__________________
NRA Member, CRPA Member, NRA Members' Council, NRA Range Safety Officer |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
The rates proposed are a very sudden huge increase and will likely drive off shooters. Has this been considered. Has a smaller increase been considered, that will reduce the cash hemorrhage, and then gradually increase it if necessary. Presumably some of the reduced income is due to the reduced amount of ammo and reloading products. USI has been losing about $1,000+/day. This cannot be a sudden occurence. Why has it not been addressed before - maybe the board make-up should be changed? Another issue is the overly long downtime in the rifle and pistol ranges. What caused this and how has that been addressed? Are efforts being made to attract shooting events? On the trap side other clubs have at least one event per month that brings in many shooters.
__________________
Jack Last edited by mjsweims; 04-23-2022 at 6:10 AM.. |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
I'll be letting my membership expire with DAP because they (USI) are making things overly complicated. I have shot 1 steel challenge match there, that's it, 1 trip in the last 3 years. Was paying my membership just to support a local range..
Shotgunners need to get a life. In Richmond, we keep them under control. Everywhere else, there are generally a pain in the neck. |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Can USI Operate as a Non-Profit entity?
I'm not sure of the mechanics or business/legal feasibility of this but could USI be converted to a Non-Profit operation? That way I think it could operate at a loss easier and by soliciting Tax Deductible donations, the income could possibly be increased. The $200.00 shoot card could become a tax deduction.
Just trying to throw out possible solutions. |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Operating the same ole same ole just is not working, there needs to be some outside the box thinking here to get the USI facility back on its feet. It sure would be a shame if this place went away. |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
When I lived up there I used to go to that Jack in The Box here and there. Didn't even know the range was there. Had always been told there were no ranges near Bay Point.
The letters people are posting read like there's a real estate deal in the works. |
#19
|
||||
|
||||
What they COULD to do is double the membership fee and renewal fee and charge a couple more dollars to shoot for members and guests. Problem solved. $25 is too cheap to be a member. Livermore charges $150 just to renew.
__________________
YouTube Channel: Nick Shoots Stuff Diablo Rod and Gun Club 03-FFL and COE Holder CMAT GMAU |
#21
|
||||
|
||||
How about this?
Shotgun Fees: $15.00 "Member" Discount $25.00 "Non-Member" Public Rifle/Pistol Fees: $15.00 "Member" Discount $25.00 "Non-Member" EFFECTIVE May 1, 2022 CLUB Membership $75/yr (new memberships) $50/yr (renewals) Everyone chip in...it takes a village
__________________
YouTube Channel: Nick Shoots Stuff Diablo Rod and Gun Club 03-FFL and COE Holder CMAT GMAU Last edited by MuayThaiJJ; 04-23-2022 at 2:31 PM.. |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
20 bucks for non member sounds about right so that is not the increase folks are up in arms about, its the 200 buck shoot card fee that is causing the ire.
However if Livermore charges 150 bucks per year, and USI charges 25, yeah just bump up the annual fee and charge a smaller shoot card fee. |
#23
|
||||
|
||||
I fully expected fees to go up after the range had to be shut down and rebuilt, the pandemic took a toll as well that had to be made up someplace. It's understandable to increase fees but this solution is ridiculous. For most shooters, it just doesn't make sense to pay for the discount card, to the point that a lot of folks are planning to just go elsewhere to shoot going forward. From the feedback I've seen from friends and others, it seems like this is going to hurt the range more than it's going to help.
|
#24
|
|||
|
|||
Are the Shotgun fees "per round", like 7.50 per token for the shotgun traps? 25.00 bucks for 25 shots does seem like a bit much.
If the same thing were done for the centerfire range you would be paying 100 bucks for your 100 rounds shot at the Paper. I can see why the shotgun fees look lower because its per round of trap and many shotgun folks purchase several rounds at a time. |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#26
|
||||
|
||||
__________________
YouTube Channel: Nick Shoots Stuff Diablo Rod and Gun Club 03-FFL and COE Holder CMAT GMAU |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
If this place closes then you may end up driving longer distances, perhaps an hour or more, to get to a similar outdoor facility (I won't shoot indoor at all anymore). Then you are going to be paying more gas and bridge tolls. There has to be some middle ground that people can deal with rather than just flipping the bird and giving up and going someplace else. USI can be a great facility that is close to many of us. Losing it helps nobody.
|
#28
|
||||
|
||||
To the best of my knowledge prior to the closing back in 2015 USI had a large surplus. In the next 3-1/2 years or so all the infighting between the 5 clubs concerning the R&P rebuild lead to squandering most of what was in the coffers on failed site designs and making up for the income shortfall since the shotgun range can't keep the lights on by itself.
Last edited by Gowking; 04-22-2022 at 8:52 PM.. |
#29
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#30
|
|||
|
|||
This is a shame.
A lawsuit against USI doesn’t solve anything. SMH. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Les Baer 1911: Premier II w/1.5" Guarantee, Blued, No FCS, Combat Rear, F/O Front, Checkered MSH & SA Professional Double Diamond Grips Springfield Armory XD-45 4" Service Model Springfield Armory XD9 4" Service Model (wifes). M&P 15 (Mine) |
#31
|
||||
|
||||
Hard to say how to break down the numbers without data. How many club member vs non member fees are paid per month/year, etc.
The issue with member vs non member fees implies 16 visits to break even for just the $200 card. That excludes club dues. How much would non member visits go down if the fee goes up to $30 vs $20. Same with member fees going up some per visit. How much of club revenue goes to USI? A high price card is not going to work IMO, unless it comes with benefits like a fast pass check in, etc. I will pay more per visit and help to keep USI open, but the $200 seems high for the benefit compared to non member pricing. I don’t see a casual shooter/non member shying away if the price is $30 vs $20, driving 10 miles further will cost more than that. BUT not sure how much that impacts revenue??? Last edited by FNGGlock; 04-22-2022 at 9:40 PM.. |
#33
|
||||
|
||||
USI is a 501c4... Not a 501c3
__________________
kcbrown -- The Constitution is not "the Supreme Law of the Land, except in the face of contradicting law which has not yet been overturned by the courts". It is THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND, PERIOD. Consider very carefully what that means for your oath to uphold the Constitution. |
#34
|
|||
|
|||
Also, the employees are amazing and incredibly helpful but I have never understood why you need so may of them. I have always assumed that the laws here dictate a specific ratio but having multiple people waiting for someone to use the range is a bad business model. It also states that Diablo has been asking for an audit.. if no audit has happened with such a large organization then they have a much larger issue and maybe a restructuring of USI internal process would be a better first step instead of dumping costs onto the consumers. You are setting yourselves up to loose a LOT of revenue’s. You already have one of the highest range prices in the area.
I was planning on coming back once I am done healing stroke a few months ago but it sounds like it has become just another organization raising prices without trying to correct systemic behavior that is still going to be an issue. I went to the range 5x a week some weeks. This is very disappointing. |
#35
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
kcbrown -- The Constitution is not "the Supreme Law of the Land, except in the face of contradicting law which has not yet been overturned by the courts". It is THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND, PERIOD. Consider very carefully what that means for your oath to uphold the Constitution. |
#36
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
USI is asking the board to trust that it has things in control but this problem has been ongoing for MONTHS and MONTHS. They were warned every month that there was a loss... yet did nothing. Now USI is at a point where... "We have no choice" charge more, demand more, attempt to control more. Certain board members have sat back and done nothing. In effect violating their fiduciary responsibility to their members and other clubs. Breach of Fiduciary responsibility is something you are personally liable for and something that many folks in non-profits don't fully comprehend that responsibility.
__________________
kcbrown -- The Constitution is not "the Supreme Law of the Land, except in the face of contradicting law which has not yet been overturned by the courts". It is THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND, PERIOD. Consider very carefully what that means for your oath to uphold the Constitution. |
#37
|
||||
|
||||
Do you have business experience?? Audit?? CPA?? sit on other board or deal with non-profits?
Let Diablo know!! Coming together to solve the issues facing USI is needed. Just raising fees and hoping for the best is not a true business plan. USI needs to identify the hemorrhaging of its cash and where it is FIRST and then STOP it from leaving in wheelbarrow fulls . Then once that is accomplished ask clubs for money. Here USI is hoping for the best. Doing no real planning but expecting buckets full of new cash revenues.
__________________
kcbrown -- The Constitution is not "the Supreme Law of the Land, except in the face of contradicting law which has not yet been overturned by the courts". It is THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND, PERIOD. Consider very carefully what that means for your oath to uphold the Constitution. |
#38
|
|||
|
|||
THE PROBLEM IS THE PRESIDENT OF USI not the other clubs This is the same clown show of immediately shutting down the rifle range with no comprehensive study . the same years of delays and BS updates , the same Incessant cost overruns. The people in charge are frauds and charlatans and just because some of you are friendly with them doesn’t make them trustworthy.
|
#39
|
||||
|
||||
There are a few things wrong here.
1. The “customer service” inside the pay shack drive people away. That lady is very disrespectful to me and my friends talking to us like children - when she was actually confused about something. We are both adults and vets for that matter. They are also slow AF for checking in - takes way too much time when there is a line. Loss of revenue 2. I’ve tried the online ammo purchase multiple times and they never respond - their process is also terrible - loss of revenue 3. The new fee structure MAY be needed but it also needs to make sense. Going once a month like some one posted - it’s cheaper not to get it. 300vs 344 - so another loss of revenue. 4. Why the F are they loosing so much money - And why now is it coming out. How much was the renovation ? I heard 3mill and that seems way to high for a pole barn and a pay shack. How much are daily operating expenses? 120 full price customers brings in 3k$ not including extras. So how much does this place cost to run ? This place is blowing Through money. So that needs to be identified and reviewed asap. I will not pay the 200$ because I do not go enough - and yes the range is nice to have but my 4 times a year does not make sense for that fee. It is not my “duty” to keep the range afloat that is USI duty - and If they can’t. Time to clear the stovepipe Last edited by bubbaskyjacker; 04-23-2022 at 7:57 AM.. |
#40
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Furthermore, I believe this fee schedule is just a proposal and nothing has been set in stone so this is preliminary.
__________________
NRA LIFE MEMBER CRPA LIFE MEMBER |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|